Automatic sprinkler



Jan. 15 1924.

S, DORAIS AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed July 20. 1922 Patented Jan. 15, 1924. :e

UNITED STATES BYRON, F WINNETKA, ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL DORAIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES I).

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Application filed July 20, 1922. "Serial No. 576,180.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL DORAIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have. invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic sprinklers.

a simple reliable and eflicient automatic sprinkler in which, when the fusible material has reached a condition for releasing a valve to permit the flow of water, the parts of the control link will instantlyseparate in. a manner to prevent reseating of the valve.

Another object is to provide an automatic sprinkler having a control link in which there are no air pockets and notendency to creep and, at the same time, is extremely sensitive and quick to operateupon the occurrence of predetermined conditions.

Another object is to provide an automatic sprinkler control link adapted to meet all of the requirements for the intended use.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheet ofdrawings, in

so which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automatie sprinkler embodying my invention;

I Figure 2 is a front elevation of my improved control linkyand I a Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane of line 33 of Figure 2.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following-description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings, it will be noted that my invention is illustrated in connection with an automatic sprinkler including 'a frame 10 at one end of which is formed a threaded portion 11 by means of which the sprinkler may be secured to a pipe line and through which water for extinguishing a fire may flow under predetermined temperature conditions. Normally the flow of water is prevented by a valve 12 cooperating with a valve seat 13 formed within the frame 10. This valve 12 normally is held closed by toggle arms 14 and a link l5, Onetoggle arm 14: has a One object of this. invention is to provide pointed projection 16 extending into the valve112and the other toggle arm 14 has a projection 17 extending into a screw 18 threaded through' one end of the frame 10.

By'an inspection of Figure 1 it will heap-1 parent that the engaging or fulcruming point 19 bet-ween the toggle arms 14;is off center with respect to the pointed projections 16 and 17 so that when the outer ends of the toggle arms 14: are released from the pressure to which they are normally subjected, the toggle arms 14 spread apart an increased amount for permitting the valve 12 to open under the pressure of the water II] the pipe line whereupon water forex- F tinguishing a blaze is emitted through the pipe connection 11, out past the valve seat 13. It will be understood that the'water is supplied with considerable force-and, as

a matter of fact, is directed against the deflector 20 at the opposite end of the frame for spreading or spraying the water over a relatively large area, 5 As mentioned 'hereinabove, the toggle arms 14: normally are held in a valve clamping position under considerable'lpressu re by. the link 15. The invention resides primarily in the form of link which is herein disclosed.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 andB,

it'will be noted that thi link includes two duplicate interchangeable members "21 and 22, each of which has an opening 23 for the reception of the hooked outer end 2& of the associated toggle arm 14. Each member 21 22 is also tapered to the same extent, so that the thickness of the material is substantially constant throughout. It will be noted that the longitudinal line of separation between the link members 21v and 22 passes diagonally through. the' combined keyways 26 in the two members 21 and 22 and therefore at an angle to the side walls of said keyways. Mounted in said keyways 26 are two keys 27 28 each of which keys occupies a pore tion of the keyway in each of the members 21 and 22. The key 27 has one narrow side 29 tapered down to an edge 30 which occupies and is fulcrumed in the deep cornerm the keyway 26 of member 21.. The two wide walls 21 of the key 27 engage the inclined hereinafter.

side walls of the keyways 26. The other narrow side 32 of the key 27 is flat and is engaged by a pointed edge 33 formed on the Other key 28 for a purpose to be described The two wide walls 3 1 of the key-28 engage the inclined walls of the keyways 26, and the remaining narrow side 35 of the key 28 is tapered down to an edge 36 which is fulcrumed in the deep corner of the keyway 26 in the member 22.

' It will be noted that the longitudinal line of separation 37 between the two link mem bers 21.and 22 passes through the fulcruming point 33 between the keys 27 and 28, and in fact, the keys 27' and 28 are arranged in a toggle-like manner for quickly separating the link members '21 and 22 in a lateral direction when the'fusible material,

whichfnormally locks-the link members 21 and 22 and-l keys 27 and 28 in a single unitary mass, is melted. It will be'understood thatwhen the link-'islassembled with the. other parts of the sprinkler, as shown in -the-link members21 and 22 in'opposite directions thereis a tendency for the'key 28 .tof'p-ivot; aboutits fulcruining point 33 in a manner to thrust the link members 21 and 22 laterally away from each otherjespecially in View of the fact that clearance is I provided for the fulcruming edges 30 and ways. i i I It will be understood, of course, that the 36 of the keys to fulcrum within the keylink-me'mbers 21 and 22 and the keys'27 and 28 will be secured together by solder or any suitable" fusible material for holding the 'valve'12 closedundef normal conditions, and that upon-the fusing of thesolder the action of the inclined keys 27 and 23 in the inclined keyways'26 at an angle to the longitudinal opposing forces transmitted to the members '21 and 22 through the toggle arms 14, will cause a quick separation of the link members is: 21 and22 in a lateral direction, permitting *the toggle arms 14 to separate an increased amountan'd' the'valve 12 to open.

The inclined fulcruming'keys 27 and 28 are'arranged so that their action is quick, thereby avoiding any tendency for the valve 12- being rescaled or partially rescaled as a "resultfofwater being sprayed on the fusible materia'llafter beingmelted. The separating action between the link members 21 and is so rapid that said link members 21 and 22 are entirely separated before water can reach same.

Furthermore, by means of this link construction no air pockets are possible within the link, and accordingly any creeping or gradual separating action of the link members 21 and 22 under the pressure of the toggle arms 14: under normal conditions 15 impossible.

It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention ;falling within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

I claim: g

1. In an automatic sprinkler, a control link including a plurality of relatively movable members normally sealed together and having keyways therein at an angle with respect to the oppositely directed forces tending to separate said members longitudinally, and keys mounted in said keyways inclined in the same manner and having a knife edge fulcruming engagement with respect to each other for causing a quick lateral separating movement of said members upon the occurrence of predetermined thermal conditions.

2. In an automatic sprinkler, a control link including a plurality of relatively movable members normally sealed together and having. inclined keyways therein, and inclined keys mounted in said keyways having a common knife edge fulcruming point lying in the plane of separation'between said members whereby upon the occurrence of predetermined thermal conditions, said members will be given a quick lateral separating movement. I

3. In an automatic sprinkler, a control link including a plurality of relatively movable members normal-1y sealed together and having inclined keyways therein, and keys each of which is 'fulcrumed' within its associated member and which keys have a knife edge common fulcruming point with'res'pect to each other whereby upon the. occurrence of predetermined thermal conditions said members will be given a quick separating movement. ii

4:. In an automatic sprinkler, a control link including a plurality of relatively movable members normally sealed together and having keyways therein at an angle with respect to the oppositely directed forces tending to separate said members longitudinally, andfiat keys mounted in said keyways inclined in the same manner and having a knife edge fulcruming engagement with respect to each other andeach key having a knife edge fulcruming' engagement with respect toits associated member for causing a quicklateral separating movement of said members upon the occurrence of predetermined thermal conditions.

5. In an automatic sprinkler, a control link including a plurality of relatively movable members normally sealed together and having keyways therein at an angle with respect to the oppositely directed forces tending to separate said members longitudinally, and flat keys mounted in said keyways inclined in the same manner and having a knife edge fulcruming engagement with respect to each other at a point midway of said keyways, each of said keys also having way for causing a quick lateral separating movement of said members uponthe 00- currence of predetermined thermal conditions.

l Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 17th day of July, 1922.

SAMUEL DORAIS. 

